From Power Management to Precision Flying: My Experience with the Velis Electro

A huge thank you to The Air League and Saxon Air for an incredibly valuable week flying the Pipistrel Velis Electro.

Flying an electric aircraft brings a unique set of considerations — from managing power in relation to KW limits, to accounting for charging times and the narrow performance margins set by the POH. For example, the VNE is 108 knots whilst the climb speed is 80 knots; balancing instrument monitoring, lookout, and aircraft handling created a steep but rewarding learning curve in getting back into the rhythm of flying.

The effect of thermals this week proved to be a real challenge. I’ve never flown a glider, but at one point we were on base leg at idle power, two stages of flaps, and it still refused to come down — like a stubborn goat in the sky! (Side slipping you say?)

Every manoeuvre required careful planning to balance energy use within the 60 mins available flight time. The Velis Electro also uses flaperons rather than separate flaps and ailerons, meaning even small configuration changes have a noticeable effect on handling. Every manoeuvre required thought about energy management and efficiency throughout the flight; the more aggressive your flying style, the more precious energy spent... The less time you get in the sky.

Instead of a conventional engine, the Velis is powered by two heavy lithium batteries, strategically positioned for mass and balance. One of the most striking moments for me, was experiencing the prop legitimately stop while holding before departure — completely normal in this aircraft, but a very different sensation compared to piston flying. Without the sound of an engine responding to throttle, you become even more attuned to aerodynamic cues.

The margins are smaller, the control inputs more precise, and in this aircraft, less is more. This week has reinforced just how different the mindset needs to be when flying electric — and how exciting the future of sustainable aviation is and could be.

#PipistrelVelisElectro #ElectricAviation #TheAirLeague #SaxonAir #SustainableAviation #PilotLife #PooleysFlightEquipment